Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:26:55 GMT

[quote user="Liz Barton"]Does she seem in any pain?[/quote]

None of the dogs that i've seen have shown any signs of pain. The older bitch has responded really well to weekly sessions of hydrotherapy which does seem to be helping maintain some muscle mass. The younger bitch is still only 8 months old but again has regular hydrotherapy so i'm hoping to prevent more muscle wastage, they will usually stabilise around a year of age. It's the young male dog which seems to be struggling the most but i'm not as sure that those owners have taken on board the advise to send to hydro yet. It really is sad to see these young dogs so exhausted physically.

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Liz Barton — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:04:16 GMT

[quote user="emma o'connor"]centronuclear myopathy [/quote]

I haven't heard of this before - sounds awful! I would think physical therapy would be the most useful; possibly hydrotherapy and static flexion/extension/massage as she's still young. I would be interested to hear how it progresses as she grows and the effect of the reduced muscle tone on a growing skeleton. Fingers crossed it stabilises, but I guess it's a wait and see disease. Does she seem in any pain?

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Aine Seavers — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 01:53:22 GMT

The talk was by Diane Shelton-THE number 1 vet Guru of neuromuscular disorders-the feedback from vets who had send biopsies off to her lab and had actual diagnosis was that this triad did have an impact on various odd neuromusc conditions. I suppose give the human Lorenzso's oil story and the modulating effects of anti-oxidants on GSD CDRM/M.pathy etc, then we should not be surprised. The doses above are from another vet who supplied them to me as the lectures listed the 3 products but not the dose rates. Let me know how it goes.

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 16:17:23 GMT

That sounds interesting, not come across that yet in any of my searches, will look into . thanks

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Aine Seavers — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 09:53:56 GMT

Went to a myo talk couple of years ago-not sure if will work here but the triad below promoted by USA neuro.myo vets a lot in these odd cases. I have not used it.

Vit B complex:, 20mg nic, 2mg ribo, 5 thiamine, 2 pyrid = 1 tab sid to b collie size.
L-carnitine 50-100mg/kg bid,
Co -eny Q @ 4mg/kg/day.

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:39:07 GMT

Yes thanks I did come across this and a few other specific sites all saying pretty much the same thing. Its so sad to see these young pups struggling, and the owners who have had to adapt their expectations for their dogs, most of the families involved had chosen a lab for growing up with the kids and lots of long walks and playing. Hydrotherapy sessions do seem to be helping for the two dogs that go regularly. Just wondering if I was missing any new up to date options.

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Sarah Keir — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:57:11 GMT

Oh, how sad. No personal experience but you have probably found this resources anyway. Looks like it can get very bad :-((

https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/labrador-retriever--centronuclear-myopathy

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:46:44 GMT

I don't have anything useful I'm afraid but...[quote user="emma o'connor"] It turns out the original breeders didn't seem concerned and mated the bitch again to a different dog I believe![/quote]

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:17:26 GMT

Reactivating this thread instead of starting a fresh!

So the male dog did come back positive for CNM, from the same litter as the bitch. Now 3 years on and both doing ok with hydrotherapy and good owner management.

Now in the last 2 months I have yet again had 2 more pups present to me with the same signs, and again have both now tested positive for CNM. It turns out the original breeders didn't seem concerned and mated the bitch again to a different dog I believe! These pups are 7 months old now with very attached new owners, but the male is doing really badly, really low exercise tolerance can barely walk a few yards and sits to eat and drink. Do any of the medics or neuros out there have any up to date info on the condition as i'm struggling to find anything recent, and if there are any new options out there for treatment and management.

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]It also demonstrates 'London Bus Syndrome' - expect another soon then none for the rest of your career! [/quote]

does a 3 year gap still count!

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:55:35 GMT

Just glad I can give the owners a diagnosis. I did radiograph the male dogs hips after the number of suggestions to do so and there is moderate hip dysplasia. However I suspect this will be concurrent to the myopathy as I expect his DNA test to be positive also. I had the bitch booked in for hip radiographs this week but the owner rang today with the test results and decided to cancel them for now. Thanks for all the input.

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:59:54 GMT

[quote user="emma o'connor"]The Bitch has come back positive for centronuclear myopathy [/quote]I don't have any experience of this but although you may be sorry for the dogs and their owners you must feel a great glow of satisfaction for cracking the diagnosis. It also demonstrates 'London Bus Syndrome' - expect another soon then none for the rest of your career! I diagnosed 3 cases of SLE in a week in my early career and never seen another case since.

[quote user="Virginia Campbell"]thinking about zebras [/quote] The zebras did come along this time!

RE: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 14:55:54 GMT

UPDATE

The Bitch has come back positive for centronuclear myopathy she is getting progressively weaker. Still awaiting the dogs results but I suspect will be the same. Does anyone have experience with managing dogs with this condition?

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Virginia Campbell — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 20:51:32 GMT

[quote user="emma o'connor"]for anyone still interested. [/quote]

Yes, we are!

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 14:09:14 GMT

neospora serology was negative. The owners have sent to the AHT for the DNA test for Labrador Centronuclear myopathy. Will post the results once known for anyone still interested.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Linda Filshie — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 12:12:59 GMT

D'oh, reading more closely I see you've ruled that out, sorry.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Linda Filshie — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 12:11:54 GMT

Consider Exercise Induced Collapse - genetic complaint in labs. You can get a genetic test done through IDEXX (I think.)

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

grumpyoldman — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 01:03:44 GMT

Neospora springs to mind from somewhere or some other polymyositis if there is 0 on XR , but be careful where u send the biopsies as some big labs are a bit naff with interpretation.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Virginia Campbell — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:59:53 GMT

Common things are common...so hips first thing to look at...

but thinking about zebras:

Wrong age for myasthenia gravis (too old for congenital, too young for acquired)...but I have heard of a dog (JRT IIRC) who showed abrupt sitting down as first sign of MG. Bear in mind if nothing else thrown up and be on the lookout for other signs.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Gerry Henry — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:40:34 GMT

Good to see you again Malcolm, if you have time drop me a PM.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:17:03 GMT

Great to hear from you again Malcolm. I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't heard of that one!

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:00:53 GMT

Thanks Malcom, I came across the DNA test for the Labrador myopathy and did think it was a consideration. All the blood work so far has come back normal. No changes on biochem, haematology, bile acid stim normal. Thanks for the tip on the patella reflexs I will check both the dogs.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Malcolm Ness — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:54:44 GMT

Consider Labrador Retriever Myopathy.

Check the Patella reflexes - these are typically absent in such cases. Most dogs affected dogs are the lean, leggy types you described. John Houlton, who recognised some of the early cases described them as "Snipey"

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:21:38 GMT

ok great will check the femoral pulses. Sorry about the video not working, i'm not great with computers! Will see if i can sort the problem.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

Joyce Whitehead — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:52:10 GMT

We had one with an almost identical history a couple of years ago, turned out to have a reverse shunting PDA. No murmur there, possibly slightly cyanotic membranes caudal end of the dog (once we had a diagnosis so knew to look!). So maybe consider this before any GA. Our one developed a high PCV, but that developed later in the progression. She had very weak pulses in her hind legs once she had exercised a little. Can't see your video I'm afraid.

Re: Odd hindleg weakness in 7month old Labradors

emma o'connor — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:41:04 GMT

No blood work yet but the female is due in on Thursday for blood work. Neither dog is overweight, both are lean and leggy type labradors.